Pursuing Diet Book Sales Success

by Christine Lakatos
(California )

Failure is Not an Option

When I decided to write and self-publish a book, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

Considering I have been in the fitness industry for over 25 years, I was tired of seeing many unsafe and dangerous diet programs enter the marketplace. It was frustrating to see so many offer quick-fix solutions and tons of hype and misinformation.

So I took my frustration and combined it with my expertise and knowledge and did it–I wrote, designed, and published MY DIVA DIET: A Woman's Last Diet Book. My first desire was to help women and children lose weight the safe, healthy and permanent way. As time passed, I realized that I also wanted become a best-selling author, to complete the MY DIVA DIET series, and go on to write others books. But "ignorance is bliss! If I had known the amount of time, energy, money, and dedication it takes to realize my goals as an author, I may have decided NOT to write the book after all!

The challenges and obstacles came at every corner, from the difficulties with our website design, going through four editors, organizing and reorganizing content, the endless hours of research, to the complexity of the layout, design and book cover. Since my book is based on fact not fiction, editing was the worst part. It was tedious and difficult to make sure the editors did not lose the facts in the re-writes. It was also important to make the sure the reader could understand a complicated subject matter (health and fitness) and apply it to their life. There were writes and re-writes until I thought I was gonna go crazy! I have to admit, at times I cried and wanted to throw the entire manuscript into the fireplace. Because I had a great team who frequently talked me out of it and I have a somewhat obsessive personality, I didn't! In fact I moved forward with more fervor than the day before!

Since my book went on sell in September, I have been faced with an even bigger road block–HOW DO I SELL MY BOOK? Printing, marketing and distribution–all areas of the book world I had to become familiar with and am still perplexed by. I have sold 315 books so far, but have found that marketing my book is worse than my experience in writing it. But this story won't end on a negative note (learned that from my editors). Just as I persevered and completed my book, I will succeed at selling it!

Failure is Not an Option!

Visit My Diva Diet.